Edward Dmytrykólater blacklisted during the McCarthy witch huntódirected this popular, morale-boosting war flick in 1945. With equal parts grit and patriotic zeal, John Wayne portrays Col. Joseph Madden, who organized uncaptured Americans and Philippine fighters into an effective guerrilla-warfare unit that continued to battle Japanese occupiers until General MacArthur's return. Among the more inspiring scenes is a re-creation of the liberation of American prisoners from Cabanatuanóan event underscored by an on-screen roll call of the real-life U.S. soldiers freed by that daring rescue.